How is youth policy implemented in Kazakhstan?

The conference was organized by the Mazhilis of the Kazakh Parliament, the Ministry of Social Development of Kazakhstan, and the Asian Population and Development Association. The agenda of the forum included topical issues affecting the interests and rights of young people, the exchange of experience, including legislative experience, in the area of supporting the young generation.

The current generation of young people ages 10 to 24 worldwide, numbering 1.8 billion boys and girls, is the most numerous in the history of mankind. The Asia-Pacific region, including Central Asia, is home to more than 60% of young people in the world.

In the fast-growing region, investing in young people is crucial in creating an economically dynamic, peaceful, inclusive and sustainable society in the future. And it is one of the three pillars of the Concept of Strategic Priorities of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD).

Thanks to the parliamentary activities of AFPPD, the conception “investing in young people” has been included on the global, regional and national agenda.

“The most progressive and actively developing world’s countries rely on young people, realizing that expenses for them are investments in the future. Therefore, strategic programs and large state projects are developed in the country. Therefore, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev in his recently Address has set the task of making the comprehensive support of the younger generation of the country as a priority of the state policy. And, what is important, the President has declared the next year as the Year of Youth”, N. Nigmatulin said.

At the same time, the Speaker of the Mazhilis noted that being the most active part of Kazakhstan’s population, the younger generation is an important factor in improving national competitiveness.

According to official data, at the beginning of 2018 the number of young people in Kazakhstan has amounted to about 4 million, of whom 2.3 million live in urban areas and 1.7 million in rural areas. According to the results of the 2nd quarter of 2018, the number of working population at the age of 15-28 years has totaled 2038.8 thousand people. Youth unemployment rate is 3.9 per cent.

N. Nigmatulin focused on the fact that the issues of ensuring the social rights of young people, the development of creative potential, the creation of conditions for its successful socialization were and remain in the center of the state’s attention.

A legal and institutional framework has been formed to promote the interests of young people in Kazakhstan. First of all, these are laws “On state youth policy”, “On volunteering”, “On protection of the rights of children from information that is detrimental to their health and development”, the Codes “On marriage (matrimony) and family”, and the Concept of State Youth Policy until 2020.

549 youth organizations operate effectively in our country, 10 of which have the status of republican significance. Also a number of youth programs and projects are realized in order to contribute in youth employment and to increase the availability of education in Kazakhstan.

“Thus, nowadays the youth movement in Kazakhstan has a solid legal and regulatory framework, on the one hand, and on the other hand, the opportunity to participate in the work of various organizations and associations dealing with the widest range of issues of society”, N. Nigmatulin believed.

According to the Speaker of the Mazhilis, good opportunities have been created for Kazakhstani youth to receive high-quality education, self-development, and the study of foreign languages.

Among the achievements:

- 8 Kazakhstani universities were noted in the World University Rankings last year;
- Nazarbayev University - the unique educational center, which became the prototype of Kazakhstani high school of the XXI century.

“In March this year, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has announced the “Five Social Initiatives”, mostly aimed at improving the social situation of young people. Allocation of additional 20 thousand educational grants simplifies access to higher education”, N. Nigmatulin emphasized.

The Bolashak International Scholarship, created at the initiative of the Kazakh President, works successfully. The Program for the Development of Productive Employment and Mass Entrepreneurship, the projects “Zhasyl Yel”, “Youth personnel reserve”, “With a diploma to a village!”, “Serpin”, “Tulekter taktasy” have been well recommended.

“An absolutely new cultural type has emerged in the face of the modern Kazakhstani new generation, with values ​​to achieve success and rational economic behavior”, the Chairman of the Mazhilis said.

According to Nurlan Nigmatulin, deputies of all levels, state bodies should make all the necessary efforts to ensure decent conditions for the development of the young generation and for the fullest realization of its potential.

Gasim Khasmammadli, the Board Member at National Assembly of Youth Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the President of Association of Young Azerbaijani Friends of Europe (AYAFE) told how the youth policy is realized in Azerbaijan.

“The state pays great attention to the youth policy. So, the state program “Youth of Azerbaijan 2017-2021” was adopted in 2017, affecting all aspects of youth development. I also want to mention the Youth Foundation, which is a great gift for Azerbaijani youth. After restructuring in April this year, the Foundation has expanded its powers and currently provides grants to youth organizations in Azerbaijan, individuals who also have different ideas in the social sphere, and in addition, special grants are issued for study abroad, which is very important for the development of youth, to share international experiences, and to develop intercultural interaction”, he said.

In addition, according to him, the Foundation provides financial and advisory support to young people for internships in international organizations such as UN, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, NATO, WTO, etc.

“I can also say about the National Council of Youth Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which is a consultative body. All the problems that youth organizations have, they turn to us, and we provide access to the government. I also want to mention the activities of the Association of Young Azerbaijani Friends of Europe. We are engaged in international youth exchanges for long and short periods. All activities of the youth policy are administered by the Ministry of Youth and Sports”, the representative of the Azerbaijani youth summed up.

By the way, the Astana conference was attended by representatives of about 40 countries, they included parliamentarians, experts, representatives of governments, international organizations, youth NGOs and scientific community.

Saltanat Sarina